"The rejection is a clear win for our region. The decision
vindicates the efforts of local citizens, community leaders, and
business groups who objected to tolling I-80 as contrary to federal law
and economically harmful to the corridor.
However, the decision knocks a huge hole in Pennsylvania’s
transportation program. Over the last two years, a lot of money has
been borrowed and spent for which the anticipated funding source will
now not materialize.
This compounds our budget problems. Disagreements in the past
over how to properly fund transportation led to the poor choice of the
tolling option. So in the worst economy in decades, with families and
businesses hurting, and many people pushing for cuts in state
government, the search begins for a more publicly acceptable solution to
shore up a transportation system vital to safety and economic progress."
